Crystal River current., 1887-05-14

cOtnlOfIaDle State. Sne was very
tired; she had done hard day $ work
already, and was not half done.
Mr.. Harris had q quantity OF hay
down, and kept himself and the boy
and two hired men busy. OF them
selves, there was only the father.
mother and two children, the oldest
and youngest of the five, Twelve
years it was since she had mar
ried good-natured, hard-work-
ing, ambitious Will Harris, whom
every one said would ''make money"
and they said, also, that he had done
we'll in securing Molhe San
ders for his wife. How golden the COM
ing years looked to them then! Mollie
was graceful, lively aud the prettiest
girl in the country, and everybody
knew she had taken the premium for
her butter, and was far-famed for her
bread-making. But it was "Mollie"
then, never Mary" and very few
knew her name was Mary Jane. 1t
was only in the last few years, since
she had been less sprightly and quick
of foot, that he had called her Mary,
and she knew how nearly impatient
he was when he called her Mary Jane,
She did not mean to worry hum, but
she could not get around as she had
used to, while he improved in appear
ance and capabiIlty every year. She
did not reason why it was, but she
felt the cause. ga continual dropping
will wear away n stone" !
She was aroused from her reverie by
the striking OF the clock She laid the
baby, in iitful, feverish slumber. in his
cradle, and FASTENED to the work.
When she had the dishes washed and
her hair combed, how much better she
should feel, she thought; but she must
iced the two hundred young chick
ems, ducks and turkeys before then, SO
that it was after three when at last
the dishes were washed and in their
places. Bob had come up for a jug OF
water for the men. He was only elev-
en-, but he could work; his father had
seen to that. The sun was so hot she
wondered how the men could stand
beneath the scorching heat; and then
the familiar sound OF horses, hoofs
warned her her husband had returned.
She stood still by the door till she
heard his voice speaking to the horses,
and then in louder tone:
Come out and get these things"
She went out with her finger on her
lips, trembling lest his voice had wax
ened the baby.
Suns awful hot" was his COM
meut. as he piled her arms full OF
packages.
"Wish you'd bring the swill pail as
you come back. Those hogs havn't
had u blessed mouthful to drink, I'll
be bound, since morning"
She could have said that she had
watered them IL time OF two herself,
but said nothing. The large tobacco
pail was nearly full of swill, but she
carried it out, and used all her
strength to lift it to his reach as he
sat there. He turned to speak as he
started OFF.
II saw Johnson, and he wanted
butter. SO let HIM have it on the
account there. There wasn't any left
to get the calico, but / got it myself,
SO try and not get anything more till
you have marketing enough to get. for
l can't buy SO much out OF hand"
She watched him drive away, hold
ing the pail carefully poised over the
wagon-bed; but the next instant she
was in the house. There was cooking
to do for supper, and berries to pick;
and if the baby would only sleep! She
unrolled the calico. 1t needed only
glance to tell her there was not enough,
and she Don saw the amount was sew
en- yards. She couldn't have her calico
dress after all, and her butter must 90
or bill for blaci;smithlng, and she
must ttKe slur from one who should
lave given her better, because it had
gone so deep in pocket, the fortytwo
cents which che had paid himself for
the calico. There had been over three
dollars worth OF butter.
She sighed and took up her burden
again. The baking was done when
the baby walked, and she thought he
high chair by the window. The sky
ing back and forth in the bayfield,,
and Rob was riding the rake. She
picked her berries and had supper on
the table as the men came in at six
O'Clock and the first big drops ofrain
descended.
"How did your calico suit?" asked
Mr.. Harris. as she handed him the
coffee.
She looked him in the face.
There is only seven yards" she
said.
"Well."
wen, Gl0 you LINK seven yaruS
would make dress for as big wom-
an as am, WHIP"
The hired men laughed.
81 could most put mother in my
pocket" said Rob.
Mr.. Harris looked at his wife, She
was very poor and slender, weighing
perhaps q hundred pounds. Her fin.
gers were scarcely larger than the
baby's and he saw they were not as
large as Rob's. Yes. She was chang
ed since ut seventeen, when he had
taken his lot to be hers. She had red
cheeks and bright blue eyes then. Her
cheeks were scarlet with fatigue and
heat, now, but not round and soft as
they were then, and her eyes had a
weary look in them. Cant be my
fault" ran through her husbands
mind.
She certainly looked badly, but it